Category: TSA & Airline Rules

Quick answer: a TSA quart-size bag is a clear, resealable bag of about 7 x 8 inches (some run 6 x 9). It must hold all your carry-on liquids, each container 3.4 oz or less, and you get exactly one per passenger.

What Size Is a Quart Bag, Exactly?

A quart is 32 fluid ounces of volume. TSA doesn’t measure your bag with a ruler — officers eyeball it — but a bag in the 7 x 8 inch range with a flat bottom passes without question. Gallon bags and large “toiletry pouches” are the ones that get flagged.

What Actually Fits in a Quart Bag

• 4–6 travel bottles of 3.4 oz (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion)
• 1–2 small jars or magnetic capsules for skincare
• Toothpaste and a small mouthwash
• One or two makeup liquids (foundation, mascara)

That’s a full routine — if your containers are actually 3.4 oz, not half-empty full-size bottles. A 4-pack of refillable silicone bottles plus a couple of cream jars covers most travelers.

Ziplock vs. a Real Quart Bag

A kitchen ziplock is technically legal — until it splits in your bag or clouds up after two trips. A purpose-built TPU quart bag has welded seams, a metal zipper you can open with wet hands, and stays clear for years. At about $4 per bag, it outlives a hundred ziplocks.

FAQ

Can I bring two quart bags if I’m traveling with my partner?

One bag per passenger — but each of you gets your own, so split the toiletries between you.

Does the quart bag have to be clear?

Yes. Officers must see the contents without opening it. Frosted or tinted bags slow you down.

Do solid toiletries need to go in the quart bag?

No — bar soap, solid deodorant and shampoo bars travel outside the bag with no limit. Going solid is the #1 way to free up quart-bag space.

Quick answer: the most common domestic carry-on limit is 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 36 x 23 cm) including wheels and handles. Budget airlines are stricter and some charge for carry-ons — check your airline in the chart below. Updated July 2026; always confirm with your airline before flying.

Carry-On & Personal Item Size Chart — Major North American Airlines

The Rules Airlines Don’t Print in Bold

• Wheels and handles count. A “22-inch” suitcase is often 23+ inches with wheels — measure the true outside dimensions
• Sizers at the gate are enforced hardest on budget carriers and full flights
• Soft bags forgive an inch; hard shells don’t compress
• Weight limits are rare in North America but common internationally (often 15–22 lbs)

How to Actually Fit a Week in a Carry-On

The size limit isn’t the real problem — wasted air inside your bag is. Three fixes:

• Compression packing cubes squeeze bulky layers flat — up to 40% more capacity from the same case
• Roll-up compression bags handle sweaters and jackets, no pump needed
• A slim cube set organizes the personal item, turning “free bag” into real capacity

FAQ

What happens if my carry-on is slightly too big?

On strict airlines you’ll gate-check it — free on standard carriers, $50–$79 on budget airlines. Measure with wheels included before you fly.

What is the best carry-on size that fits every airline?

21 x 14 x 8 inches clears every major North American carrier including Air Canada and WestJet, with an inch of buffer.

Do packing cubes add weight?

A full ultralight set weighs about 7 oz — less than a pair of socks, and they typically save far more in avoided checked-bag fees.

Quick answer: TSA limits carry-on liquids to containers of 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or less, all fitting inside one quart-size clear bag, with one bag per passenger. That’s the 3-1-1 rule: 3.4 oz · 1 quart bag · 1 bag per person.

The 3-1-1 Rule at a Glance

What Counts as a “Liquid”?

More than you’d think. TSA treats anything spreadable, pourable or sprayable as a liquid:

• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash
• Toothpaste and mouthwash
• Creams, lotions and sunscreen
• Foundation, mascara and lip gloss
• Aerosols like dry shampoo and hairspray
• Peanut butter, yogurt and other spreadable foods

Solid items — bar soap, solid deodorant, powder makeup, a solid shampoo bar — are not restricted. Swapping liquids for solids is the easiest way to shrink your quart bag.

Key Exceptions: Medications, Baby Items & Duty-Free

• Medications (liquid or gel) are allowed in reasonable quantities over 3.4 oz — declare them to the officer at screening
• Baby formula, breast milk and juice for infants are exempt from the limit
• Duty-free liquids sealed in a tamper-evident bag with receipt are allowed on connecting flights

How to Pack Liquids Like a Pro

• Decant full-size products into 3.4 oz leakproof silicone bottles instead of buying travel minis every trip
• Use a true quart-size clear bag — oversized “toiletry bags” get pulled at screening
• Label your bottles; unlabeled white liquids invite extra screening
• Keep the quart bag in an outer pocket so it comes out in one motion
• For creams and pills, magnetic capsules stack into one tidy block

Want the whole security routine solved in one purchase? Our TSA Security Kit bundles the quart bags, bottles and capsules — 100% compliant out of the box.

FAQ

Does the 3.4 oz limit apply to the container or the liquid inside?

The container. A half-empty 6 oz bottle is still banned — decant into a 3.4 oz bottle instead.

Can I bring a full-size sunscreen in my carry-on?

No — standard sunscreen bottles exceed 3.4 oz. Pack a travel-size bottle in your quart bag and put the full-size in checked luggage.

Do checked bags have a liquid limit?

No TSA size limit for regular toiletries in checked bags — just seal them well. Roll bottles inside a waterproof bag to protect clothes from leaks.

Is the rule the same in Canada and Europe?

Yes — Canada (CATSA) and the EU use the same 100 ml / 1 L clear bag standard, so a TSA-compliant kit works worldwide.